Trent Reznor rips Apple, rates smartphone OSes
by Thomas Ricker 
posted May 4th 2009 at 3:56AM
The story begins last week when Apple rejected an update to the official Nine Inch Nails iPhone application on the grounds of "objectionable content" (read: too many F-bombs). In this case, as it was in the rejected Tweetie update, the offensive content isn't actually part of the application; Apple's concern is with the song "The Downward Spiral" that can be streamed to the updated NIN iPhone App. The stupidity of this is palpable, but the hypocrisy is best described by Trent himself in a forum post over at NIN.com. Steel yourselves: unlike Apple we haven't censored the material -- so if naughty words can hurt you then by all means, don't click through to the full quote after the break. But Mr. Jobs, old pal, if you're listening... Trent may not be Bob Dylan, but he is the voice of the digital music generation.
As posted by Trent himself in response to Apple's rejection eMail:
...I'll voice the same issue I had with Wal-Mart years ago, which is a matter of consistency and hypocrisy. Wal-Mart went on a rampage years ago insisting all music they carry be censored of all profanity and "clean" versions be made for them to carry. Bands (including Nirvana) tripped over themselves editing out words, changing album art, etc to meet Wal-Mart's standards of decency - because Wal-Mart sells a lot of records. NIN refused, and you'll notice a pretty empty NIN section at any Wal-Mart. My reasoning was this: I can understand if you want the moral posturing of not having any "indecent" material for sale - but you could literally turn around 180 degrees from where the NIN record would be and purchase the film "Scarface" completely uncensored, or buy a copy of Grand Theft Auto where you can be rewarded for beating up prostitutes. How does that make sense? You can buy The Downward Fucking Spiral on iTunes, but you can't allow an iPhone app that may have a song with a bad word somewhere in it. Geez, what if someone in the forum in our app says FUCK or CUNT? I suppose that also falls into indecent material. Hey Apple, I just got some SPAM about fucking hot asian teens THROUGH YOUR MAIL PROGRAM. I just saw two guys having explicit anal sex right there in Safari! On my iPhone!Later in the threaded discussion, Trent clarifies his position with this little gem:
Come on Apple, think your policies through and for fuck's sake get your app approval scenario together.
Everyone - let me be clear. I love Apple products and as goofy and out-of-touch as their app approval process / policy is, I will still use them because they work 1000X better than the competition. This is not a debate, it's a fact. The iPhone is THE most elegant, modern smartphone at this point in time and it's perfect for what we want to do with the NIN app - except for the ludicrous approval process, and that's what I want to draw attention to.[Via The iPhone Blog]
Android is cool, but nobody has an Android phone. Blackberry is OK but the hardware is inconsistent and WinMo straight-up sucks balls. If Apple doesn't get it together, we will most certainly make it available to the jailbreak community. I didn't invest in this app to see it languish on the sidelines from an idiotic policy while this tour is in full swing.
Read -- Trent rages against the App Store Machine
Read -- Trent's Smartphone comment
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Gad Get @ May 4th 2009 4:04AM
Apple backlash in 3... 2... 1...
John @ May 4th 2009 4:19AM
Not really. Everything he said is true.
rawrawrawr @ May 4th 2009 4:24AM
What apple is doing is for the best. One day you will come to realize how profound an effect a FUCKING WORD has on your immortal souls. When you're burning in hell, you'll be wishing apple censored even more.
John @ May 4th 2009 4:30AM
Hey, that was pretty funny.
Rider @ May 4th 2009 4:53AM
Awesome, I hope they release it to the jailbreak community. This is actually why you cannot have a closed app system and why the EU can honestly point at Apple's mobile app landscape as being anti-competitive.
utahnkid @ May 4th 2009 5:09AM
Uhh "backlash"? I guess you missed this part:
"I love Apple products and as goofy and out-of-touch as their app approval process / policy is, I will still use them because they work 1000X better than the competition. This is not a debate, it's a fact. The iPhone is THE most elegant, modern smartphone at this point in time and it's perfect for what we want to do with the NIN app"
THOSE RAT BASTARDS!! How DARE they!? And I challenge you to find me an Apple fan, even among the most jaded, that approve of the inconsistent moral policing going on in the app approval process.
Lazarpandar @ May 4th 2009 5:26AM
@john
Well he stated an opinion was a fact, so not everything he said was true.
Elegance is in the eye of the beholder, its not something that can be clearly defined.
Gad Get @ May 4th 2009 5:25AM
You guys got it all wrong; that was the cue for the Apple backlash to begin!
mike @ May 4th 2009 9:12AM
Apple backlash? They've 'authorized' 35,000 apps already. He complimented them for releasing the best Smartphone/Mobile OS on the market.
Reznor made reference to something called a 'NIN section' in something called a 'Music Store' which tells me he thinks the year is actually 1998.
And the fact that people are talking to him as a musician in 2009? Baffling.
nikster @ May 4th 2009 9:07AM
I love my iPhone but yep, the approval process is moronic and un-befitting of Apple.
Trent is right on all points. Apple needs to approve the NIN app, because for one it's idiotic to censor an app that might display unapproved content, and two if they sell NIN songs in their own iTunes music store it just makes them look silly. Really silly.
Phenoum @ May 4th 2009 11:36AM
@ PAC
That copy-paste post is now SPAM in my book - Reported :)
jon @ May 4th 2009 11:46AM
Hey mike, those of us who shop outside of the top 40, and listen to music on something better than a $30 iPod dock skip the mp3 section, as a rule.
As soon as amazon or microsoft switches to FLAC's, I'll get interested, until then I'll buy the cd and rip my own files.
lanejasper69 @ May 4th 2009 1:03PM
@rawrawrawr what the hell are you talking about??? I hope it's sarcasm but hard to tell.
Go Trent!! Seriously, spot on correct! 9 year olds are playing these games where heads are blown of, you can club anyone to death etc. (Don't get me wrong I'm a gamer, but I'm also 40) and young children as young as 8 yrs old and up in the world are killing people with AK's so I agree with his plight 100%!! Apple needs to seriously get ahold of this approval process, I cannot wait to see this through Cydia!! LMAO!!!
Boy Apple is REALLY changing these days, pissing off MANY people. I love the iPhone for it's sleekness and beauty, but NOT the "features" until 3.0 that is. A2DP and many more should have been added 2 years ago when the 1st one came out....APPLE, get with it and quit being dumbasses!
VanillaSpice @ May 4th 2009 11:22PM
@rawrawrawr - I cannot believe that so many failed to realise that your post was ironic. I can see how hard you worked to make it obvious you were being ironic. Sad. You effectively said "stop f*cking swearing" and yet still, they missed the irony.
@PAC - thanks, man. I think I've now gone a whole week without keeping abreast of how many apps are in the categories, and I was starting to get the shakes, you know.
Seriously, I'm as happy as anyone with the number of apps the App Store has, I think its great, et cetera, but there's just no need to have the category breakdown posted. Posted even once, let alone posted dozens of times.
Here's the thing - I can understand an Apple fan posting that info to brag. I get it. But when you keep re-posting it, *knowing* that you are causing people to have negative feelings towards Apple as a result, then I start to question whether you really are an Apple fan at all, or whether you're one of those nasty trolls we have on here, who pretend to be Apple fans and post the most outrageous and stupid fanboy comments deliberately to whip up anti-Apple-fanboy (and hence, anti-Apple) sentiment.
So, deal - either a) you genuinely do like Apple, and therefore you'll stop posting this stuff which hurts the company's reputation, or b) you are one of those "double agents" who actually hates Apple and is fostering anti-Apple sentiment, and you'll keep posting this stuff. I guess we'll soon know.
jehe @ May 4th 2009 11:37PM
hell yes! Trent, these are the same thoughts I've had over and over again. I don't even remember the last time I bought a cd at wally world for those same reasons. Not only do they sell un-edited dvd's and video games; but they also sell guns, ammunition, liquor, cigarettes, condoms and personal lubrication. It makes me sad that I can't buy a cd there with the word fuck in it. Hey, dammit!! If I want to hear it, I'll buy it! If not, then I'll pass it by. Why is it so damn hard for others to do the same?
Worcester @ May 6th 2009 2:54PM
It always surprises me how many people, who seem intelligent, continue to project their own opinions or biases on another person, or in this case, company.
How do you know Apple is making a decision based on morality?
I'll ask it again, just to be sure you're listening. How do you KNOW that Apple is making a decision based on MORALITY?
Ultimately, Apple is responsible for the content that Apple puts on Apple's app store and by extension, Apple's iPhone. I'm not sure when the last time Trent was sued by anyone, but it seems to be a daily occurrence if your company happens to sell fruit-branded computer equipment. Couldn't Apple just be taking a conservative approach to it's approval process so it doesn't draw any more fire from lawsuit-happy sharks?
And yes, I know that this objectionable content is available on the internet and even on Apple's own iTunes store... but that doesn't really clarify the situation, does it? Music is certainly protected speech, but music can also be experienced in a great many different forms of media. If it's protected in one form, it's probably protected in another. Is an app protected speech? What about an app that only runs on one specific device? The Wal-Mart scenario and this one are completely different.
The problem with this approval process is the same as with most Apple initiatives. It's never been done before. Or at least, not with the same success, which seems to create as many problems as it solves.
Simply put, no person on these boards can assume anything about Apple's motives. What seems cut and dried to some, might be a complex minefield to others.
ArcticFox @ May 4th 2009 4:06AM
Trent Reznor what a whining little girl, NiN who?
Trevsweb @ May 4th 2009 4:12AM
you missed out apple sux in that reactionary comment :P
wako @ May 4th 2009 4:27AM
LOW RANKED?! I couldnt agree anymore with this comment!
EGOvoruhk @ May 4th 2009 6:02AM
Learn to read. Apple rejected an update. His app is already online
Deed @ May 4th 2009 6:18AM
Nono, he's right to be pissed off about a rejection based on something as frivolous as naughty words that every kid in every goddamn playground on the planet knows. People buy things with profanity knowing what they're in for, and shops and online distributors seriously don't need to white knight their customers by "protecting" them from these things.
Hackettman @ May 4th 2009 12:30PM
Hes whining? What do all of us do here on engadget? I guess when some says "@ppl3 pwns w!nm0" and how much they hate that they cant do this or that we're just stating plainly......
He invested in an app and if you know anything about NIN theyre one of the few bands that actually invest in their music and ideas. They usually are overlooked commercially because theyre always edgy....... They have two albums fully downloadable (In a multitude of formats).
If anything he has more of a right to whine than we do most of not knowing the process to get something like this put out.
Chird @ May 4th 2009 12:40PM
He can "whine" all he wants for all I care. He's Trent. Fucking. Reznor. Not to mention he has a very valid point.
*Just some girl @ May 5th 2009 11:51AM
I agree with what he said... but not with his attitude. What a dbag.
john @ May 4th 2009 4:09AM
this is why i hate app stores.
bondsbw @ May 4th 2009 8:42AM
Don't hate on app stores. The concept is revolutionary. It works out very well for consumers, developers, and the store itself.
If Apple is so worried about offensive material, it should expand its Parental Controls. Instead of ON or OFF settings, it could have a Safe Only setting. It's not that hard of a concept.
If kids want to listen to objectionable material, or want to see boobies, they will find a way. Apple just wants to make sure the iPhone isn't that way... but they need to get reasonable.
kal326 @ May 4th 2009 9:50AM
@bondsbw
"It's not that hard of a concept." Neither is copy and paste and we all know how that worked out....
Jorvay @ May 4th 2009 10:03AM
@Bondsbw
Revolutionary might be a strong word. App stores are just like traditional GUI-accessed Linux repositories, but run over mobile networks, and often with a financial element included. Still very cool, but evolutionary at best.
congoose @ May 4th 2009 2:41PM
Does anyone have an issue with the fact that Trent’s compared the app store approval process with the inconsistencies of Walmart censorship? From what I can tell, Apple has been vary consistent with their policy…considering the fact that they probably receive hundreds of questionable apps a day (my guess, I have no stats). By definition, the browser and email program on any platform ‘should’ be un-censored, unless the end-user dictates it. So I don’t think that is a valid comparison…but it was an entertaining post.
As for the app store being revolutionary, I agree with Jorvay, it’s not. It was a market response to undercut the (at the time) soon to be released, open source smartphone platform.
bondsbw @ May 4th 2009 3:28PM
@Jorvay
I was including Linux app repositories in "app stores". I've always been a fan... I love how easy even apt-get is. That's much better than a web GUI where you have to Google for the app, find one of several stores, and set them up with all your billing info just to download a file that you have to run and enter a code you get after receiving a confirmation email, etc.
I know, I know, those are all free and there is no "billing info" required... but Apple made something that is even easier to use, and allows you to purchase apps instead of just downloading free utilities. So, that's the "revolutionary" part.
Insert Name Here @ May 4th 2009 10:36PM
@congoose
I don't believe his reasoning is flawed - some of the games from the app store are "M" rated on my xbox 360/PS3/PC (a combination), and while I haven't checked to see whether they are consistent with the blood and gore levels that they were given an "M" rating for, not to mention the other things that would give it a "T" rating at best, it seems like his logic is dubiously flawless (by an umpteenth-fold) in this one. Apple, you listening? (Yeah, I thought you weren't. Pffft.)
Secret Squirrel @ May 5th 2009 9:39AM
It's inconsistent because they somehow approved the shaken baby app...
Cunthor @ May 4th 2009 4:09AM
I bet he's reading this comment right now!
Cunthor @ May 4th 2009 4:14AM
"I just saw two guys having explicit anal sex right there in Safari! "
Oh yea, and I saw that happen at Kruger National Park too.
Timm @ May 4th 2009 4:11AM
More App Store controversy. Go figure...
Dragonfly @ May 4th 2009 4:10AM
"I love Apple products and as goofy and out-of-touch as their app approval process / policy is, I will still use them because they work 1000X better than the competition. This is not a debate, it's a fact. The iPhone is THE most elegant, modern smartphone at this point in time and it's perfect for what we want to do with the NIN app - except for the ludicrous approval process, and that's what I want to draw attention to."
"Android is cool, but nobody has an Android phone. Blackberry is OK but the hardware is inconsistent and WinMo straight-up sucks balls."
Wow! This is definitely gonna set the fan boys off!
Valicore @ May 4th 2009 4:13AM
It's true about Android, at least at this point.
jonthezombie @ May 4th 2009 4:19AM
Typing on a macbook right now. PC in the other room.
I got a friend with an Iphone, it drops calls like your mom drops her panties.
I think that whenever he switches from a 3g call to a whatever the other thing is call, it drops. But whatever, no way in hell Im going to be paying 200 for a phone, regardless if its "that awesome". Ill wait another 3 months for the g2 to come out, get on craigslist or ebay and buy a g1 for
Richard Walker @ May 4th 2009 4:31AM
@ johnthezombie
That's not really the iPhone's fault, its the carrier. I've had an iPhone here in the UK since the launch and never had one dropped call.
wako @ May 4th 2009 4:30AM
@jonthezombies
the iphone drops called like your moms panties? i know the iphone drops calls a lot, but if your mom drops her panties that much, she just might be a hooker. you might want to tell her to stop ;)
Gad Get @ May 4th 2009 4:33AM
"I love Apple products and as goofy and out-of-touch as their app approval process / policy is, I will still use them because they work 1000X better than the competition."
Sounds like a closed-minded fanboy-ish statement to me. Hyperbole much? And BTW, isn't it Apple you accuse of screwing with you?
"This is not a debate, it's a fact."
So I guess I'm just plain wrong then, eh? After all, you can't dispute a proven fact.
"The iPhone is THE most elegant, modern smartphone at this point in time..."
I would argue the point, but it's a fact, so I can't. Never mind then, Palm, RIM, Nokia, HTC... guess you won't be getting my business after all.
"Android is cool, but nobody has an Android phone."
I see. And screw those who do have Android phones, right? Even if they are a rapidly growing demographic.
"Blackberry is OK but the hardware is inconsistent..."
Comes from having more than one model, I guess. Selection=bad, less expensive models=bad.
"...and WinMo straight-up sucks balls."
I've never actually used WinMo in any form so I don't really know, but that statement seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? But at least he then goes on to explain what sucks about it, right? He doesn't? Oh.... But obviously this guy takes his facts seriously, so I think we can take his word for it.
This guy really shows his intelligence when he gets going.
Dragonfly @ May 4th 2009 4:36AM
@ jonthezombie
"it drops calls like your mom drops her panties." What?! You dumb p***k! If you had a brain cell, it would die of loneliness!
Jesse S @ May 4th 2009 4:57AM
All smartphones suck. WinMo is a sack of shit. iPhone OS is too, although the insane control Apple has over the app store is just shit icing on the dogshit cake. BlackBerry? That Java piece of shit is enough to make any competent software developer cry. Android? Just another massive corporation trying to control information and advertise to you. Anyway, I'm a hypocrite as I use gmail, google reader, OS X, and whatnot but whatever.
crazacool @ May 4th 2009 5:40AM
@ Jesse S
I'm sorry, what? Your expletives got in the way of your argument.
nick @ May 4th 2009 11:32AM
@Gad Get:
"Sounds like a closed-minded fanboy-ish statement to me. Hyperbole much? And BTW, isn't it Apple you accuse of screwing with you?"
Please read his statement again. I am sure that this time you will notice he is ridiculing A) their hypocrisy and B) their approval process.
"So I guess I'm just plain wrong then, eh? After all, you can't dispute a proven fact."
Yes. If you would like, please research any evidence contradictory to his statement.
"I would argue the point, but it's a fact, so I can't. Never mind then, Palm, RIM, Nokia, HTC... guess you won't be getting my business after all."
You would argue it anyways, Gad. But again, please feel free to find any contradictory evidence. Remember to focus on user reviews/impressions, too. I am sure you will find Apple to be quite a force in the smartphone market.
"I see. And screw those who do have Android phones, right? Even if they are a rapidly growing demographic."
Nevermind them, not screw them. They are a minority, and it would be bad business to focus on them over a larger demographic.
"Comes from having more than one model, I guess. Selection=bad, less expensive models=bad."
Comes from having a browser that renders and behaves inconsistently across platforms. Comes from phones not having the same capabilities as each other. His app would have to be the barest minimum to be consistent on all RIM devices. With Apple products, that is not a worry.
"I've never actually used WinMo in any form so I don't really know, but that statement seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? But at least he then goes on to explain what sucks about it, right? He doesn't? Oh.... But obviously this guy takes his facts seriously, so I think we can take his word for it."
Anyone with any experience with multiple smartphone platforms/OS's will tell you the same thing. And you have never used it, so your opinion isn't needed here.
"This guy really shows his intelligence when he gets going."
As do you, apparently. Srsly, do some research on Trent. Great guy, visionary.
dan2600 @ May 4th 2009 11:43AM
@gad gat
really nice break down, u pretty much shut him up.
I used a mac at work, a PC at home, and I have an iphone.
I like the iphone, but other then LG's pisspoor OS, i don't really see any problems with winmo and blackberry other then the fact that they update exchange servers faster then iPhone does and lets you work on Mircosoft (the business standard) documents nativity, and would probably make more sense in a business environment.
To each his own product...but I don't see the need to stupidly attack other platforms with no foundation on his argument.
McPOW @ May 4th 2009 4:52PM
Since when is 1+ million people "nobody"? Totally asinine.
hyperphuzion @ May 8th 2009 4:41AM
1 + million people from a single phone on (until very recently) a single carrier in about 7 months and rapidly growing not only in carrier support but phone models as well.
There's less competition in the Android app market, not-developing for them because it's just "nobody" wouldn't "be bad business to focus on them". It gives you an advantage. there's also the fact that Android has significantly more potential than the iPhone. Why? Because android is an OS that can run on most mobile technologies, can be built and supported by pretty much any carrier and manufacturer, and yet you have the same relative standardized OS advantage that you have with the iPhone. More Carriers, More Countries, More Companies, More Phones, More Choices, and yet the same OS so you only have to write the app once then maintain it.
Granted, he has a good point, there's more iPhone users than g1 users currently. But to ignore the google demographic isn't exactly a good idea.
LordFarkward @ May 4th 2009 4:10AM
You didn't have to swear, god dangit. Now I can't read your comment on my iPhone.
munir @ May 4th 2009 4:10AM
+1, trent reznor